Husqvarna 261

[Steve Hatfield]

Just picked this 1999 saw and a McCulloch Power mac 320 for $10. Owner said it’s been sitting in back of his garage and didn’t know if it ran. New $10 fuel line and the 261 is running well. Put a compression gauge( it reads correctly on other things) on it and it’s at 120lb. I did a search and it seems that this saw with the dished piston isn’t a high compression engine to start with. I plan on installing a meteor 262 piston/ ring and a MM.
It starts and idles and accelerates fine
Here is my Q’s , I have a 359 with a toasted cylinder, I bought a Hyway quad port cylinder for it, I haven’t installed it yet. I’m going to sell one of these saws to a buddy, not sure which one I should keep. Any preference on these two?

 

[cuinrearview]

Lots of nice 359s out there, not many two series Huskys in that condition.

 

[Steve Hatfield]

Thanks Tim, I was kinda leaning on letting the 359 go. I have the 357 that I got the cylinder from you, just wondering how that Hyway cylinder was gonna run on the 359 compared to the 357.

 

[drf255]

That’s a beauty.

Keep the 261.

For the price you paid, you can even have it ported and find a 3 shoe clutch and do a 199/87 carb conversion if you wanted. Unless ported, the stock carb a 2 shoe clutch will be adequate.

Adding a meteor 262 slug is a great idea. It’s one of the few meteor pistons that’s actually lighter than oem.

I’m not a Husky aficionado, but I’ve got a soft spot for that saw.

 

[Jason280]

What are the major differences between this and a 61?

 

[Huskvarna hotellgäst]

What are the major differences between this and a 61?

Apart from the swept volume and a few bolts, everything!

I realise this may not be an entirely helpful answer but is nonetheless true.

 

[cus_deluxe]

yep as as said above, they have no relation to each other, totally different chassis.

 

[Huskvarna hotellgäst]

Apart from the swept volume and a few bolts, everything!
I realise this may not be an entirely helpful answer but is nonetheless true.

More information.
Both saws are 61.5cc, bore 48mm, stroke 34mm.
The 61 is an open-port semi-pro version of the pro 162, introduced in the late 1970s.
Both the 261 and 262 are derived from the pro 254, which was itself an update to the 154, introduced in 1984.
According to this post by 'Saw Troll' https://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/husqvarna-261-piston.102410/#post-1600968
the 261 has the same closed-port cylinder as the 262XP, so maybe all you need is a 262 piston to turn a 261 into a 262.

Oh yeah, one-piece Electrolux ignitions, main bearings, spark plug, bar nuts & starter handle are also interchangeable.

 

[Huskitoter]

Thanks Tim, I was kinda leaning on letting the 359 go. I have the 357 that I got the cylinder from you, just wondering how that Hyway cylinder was gonna run on the 359 compared to the 357.

Post your thoughts after you get the hyway cyl on your 359. Been wondering how the current ones compare to an oem 357.

Very nice find on the 261.

 

[Deleted member 117362]

If it's worth rebuilding use new or nice used oem. Meteor if can not find. Had several exhaust port plating issues with AM you want to use. But, it's your saw and just an opinion. Oh, yes, nice saw.

 

[Steve Hatfield]

So that cylinder isn’t very good quality? I read some decent reviews on it. And I’m installing a caber ring which I read helps. I got it on sale for $49 so won’t be out a lot of money if it’s not good.

 

[cuinrearview]

What about the top end I sent?

Edit, just noticed you got another saw

 

[Steve Hatfield]

Yup, I put that cylinder you sold me and a meteor/ caber ring on that 357 along with a thin base gasket.and MM. Shows about 175 lbs compression , runs strong. I have a few saws now. Why, I don’t know, I don’t even cut firewood. But it’s just a hobby. Projects or
Saws that I’ve acquired to tinker. 350, 346xp NE, 357xp, 359 and the 261.

 

[cuinrearview]

Yup, I put that cylinder you sold me and a meteor/ caber ring on that 357 along with a thin base gasket.and MM. Shows about 175 lbs compression , runs strong. I have a few saws now. Why, I don’t know, I don’t even cut firewood. But it’s just a hobby. Projects or
Saws that I’ve acquired to tinker. 350, 346xp NE, 357xp, 359 and the 261.

Finished one up myself last night.

Gotta shake it down and then I'll send it down the road. Too many pretty red ones to keep this around.

 

[Steve Hatfield]

Nice clean saw!

 

[Deleted member 117362]

Finished one up myself last night.
View attachment 748883
Gotta shake it down and then I'll send it down the road. Too many pretty red ones to keep this around.

What a show off! Nice.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I still love my Husqvarna 61. Yes, it's older than a Husky 261, but it still starts and runs very well:

I'm not the original owner. He died two years ago. But, a few new parts is all that it needed. I should have used it today rather than my Stihl 036.

 

[cuinrearview]

What a show off! Nice.

He said 346 in a 261 thread...

 

[Steve Hatfield]

Just an update. Put a meteor 262 piston/ caber ring, opened up the muffler in front where the factory slit is and cut out the side port to about 5/8”. Covered the side back up using a 288 deflector. I did put in a spark screen.
Put a thin( Manila envelope) base gasket , squish came out about .18 thousands and topped it of with a 20” Stihl RS chain.
Tuned it to 12,800 for break-in .
Starts up on 3rd pull when cold and 1 when warmed up. Idles nice and pretty responsive on the throttle. Overall pretty pleased with it so far . Haven’t had the chance to cut anything of decent sized yet but mostly in the 6-8” range.
1 tank through her and looking forward to trying larger trees.
Only thing I have noticed is it does have a bit more vibration from idle to wot compared to my 357xp. Not sure which saw has more power as the 357 is done up the identical way. I’m sure once both broke in the 261/262 will shine in larger wood.
On deck next is the 359 build with the Hyway quad port cylinder.